Drive or Fly: Laguna, CA to Covelo, CA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for SMF–RDD. At 224 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 47m

Distance

224.8 mi

Total Cost

$85

CO2

91 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$50

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 34m

16m in the air

Air Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$180

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Laguna, CA → SMF 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RDD → Covelo, CA 106m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Laguna, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 21 mi, ~32m drive

Covelo, CA RDD — Redding Municipal Airport 71 mi, ~106m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SMF and RDD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 54m

3h 25m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus N2111

Door-to-Door Timeline

Laguna, CA → Sacramento (Old Sacramento 2nd St/J St) (0SI) 18m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 205m

Arrival 10m

Redding Bus Station (RDG6) → Covelo, CA 106m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From 0SI — Sacramento (Old Sacramento 2nd St/J St) 12 mi, ~18m drive

To RDG6 — Redding Bus Station 71 mi, ~106m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 47m	4h 34m	5h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$85	$180	$16
Carbon footprint	91 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

224.8 mi 4h 46m

via US 101; CA 128, I 80, CA 162

Shortest (+0 min)

186.9 mi 4h 46m

via I 5, NF 7, CA 162

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Laguna, CA to Covelo, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.